Creative director of Fable Arts Alex O’Toole with staff and patients on Clifton Ward 3
Following the success of an art project in 2017, Clifton Hospital is taking part in a new programme.
‘Wonder-Full’ is a new therapeutic arts programme for older people staying in hospital and home care settings and follows on from last year’s ‘Dare to Be Great’ collaboration with Ludus Dance and patients living with dementia at Clifton.
The scheme started at Clifton last week and will cover all wards as part of a drive to support patient mental health and wellbeing and contribute to the improvement of patient ‘flow’ on an operational level.
The project will be exploring patient thoughts, memories, feelings and emotions connected to nature and being in the outdoors, using the creative practices of visual art, creative writing, movement and music.
Creative director of Fable Arts, Alex O’Toole, said: “We are really thrilled to receive ta second lot of funding from United Utilities for this project.
“The patients and staff at the hospital have always really welcomed and we are really looking forward to improving mental health and wellbeing by bringing the outdoors in. We hope this will aid their recovery and get patients back into a home environment.”
Clinical Matron, Courtney Bickerdike, said: “The programme of visual arts, creative writing and movement and music will run on all wards over the next 12 weeks.
“It will help with our End PJ Paralysis campaign – which encourages patients to get up and dressed instead of staying in nightwear – and will also stimulate our patients and reduce their length of stay.”